"EU cannot help you - join Russia's life force"

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin says that Serbia should "join the life force of Russia" because the EU cannot provide it with rapid economic development. "The only format that I can see is for Serbia to join the life force of Russia, and the format that Serbia will choose should satisfy it in the highest meaning of the word," the ambassador said during a panel discussion organized in Kosovska Mitrovica. "EU cannot help you - join Russia's life force" The gathering was organized in Kosovska Mitrovica on the occasion of 110 years since the assassination of Russian Consul Grigory Stepanovich Shcherbin in the town, during the Ottoman Turk occupation. Chepurin further told the panel that it was important that the solution for the Kosovo problem provides a safe and secure life for the people in there. "Understanding between the Serbs in Kosovo and in Belgrade is needed, and it is very important for the talks. A peaceful and political solution must be found so that the people can live safely, and if conditions were to be created for Serbs from central Serbia to find jobs in Kosovo , that would be real pleasure," said the Russian ambassador. Chepurin stressed that his country, which does not recognize the ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, would continue to support Serbia on Kosovo. Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Aleksandar Vulin also took part in the discussion, to say that, "as we want Serbia to be here, we want Russia to be close to us." "Where there is no Russia and its impact, the Serbian voice is not heard - it's as if we're not loud enough, as if we're not seen," said Vulin. "It is hard, we are few in number, those more powerful (than us) have gathered around us - but as long as the Russian Federation exists we are not alone, just as the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, in the north and in the south, will not be left behind as long their Belgrade is there. It is worth fighting for every Serb in Kosovo and Metohija, it is worth fighting for Kosovo and Metohija," this government official stated. Chepurin was further quoted as saying that Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council was the only document that regulates the status of Kosovo. Regardless of what anyone is saying about a change in the situation, there is that one document and no other, by which the international community determined its position on Kosovo and Metohija, Chepurin said. "I think we should not forget this, though some would like us to forget, because it is a valid document," the Russian diplomat said of Resolution 1244. He added that Russia's position with regard to Kosovo was clear from the beginning , saying that his country was trying to support Serbia in every way, to implement such a policy that would be acceptable to their friends and political partners in Serbia. Chepurin believes that, "if tomorrow everyone recognized Kosovo, it would be difficult to count on Serbs remaining on their land the day after." "Serbian negotiators must feel that it has a joint position here, and I think there is no other way than a peaceful political solution," he said, pointing out at the same time that it was necessary to think not only about a this, but also about how people live in Kosovo. "We're not magicians, but we will do everything we can to help the Serbs in the consolidation of their interests," the ambassador told the crowd in the packed faculty hall in Kosovska Mitrovica. The panel was attended by political representatives of Serbs in Kosovo, officials of the relocated Pristina University, SPC Bishop of Raska and Prizren Teodosije, and others. Chepurin further stated that he believed it was possible to reach an agreement and that it could guarantee safe and secure life for Serbs in Kosovo, adding that the only way to resolve the status of Kosovo-Metohija, without international recognition, was through talks. He warned that non-recognition of Kosovo means opposition to the great powers that want this issue to be resolved, and that pressure, he said, can be withstood only by a few countries, including Russia and its "closer allies", and "several countries who are friends of Serbia, and China." Aleksandar Vulin said before his meeting with the Russian ambassador that the position of the Serbian leadership was that "nothing can be done in Kosovo and Metohija at the expense of the people who live in the province": "We will look for a common solution, which will always take care of the people who live in Kosovo and Metohija. On behalf of the Serbian government I would like to say that the stance of the leadership is that there will be nothing done to the detriment of the people who live down here. These negotiations are conducted not because somebody finds it pleasant but because the people from Kosovo have the right to make decisions about their lives, and that right was so far not offered by anyone." In Kosovska Mitrovica, Ambassador Chepurin met with Vulin, his deputy Krstimir Pantic and municipal authorities. He then joined Vulin and placed flowers at the monument dedicated to Shcherbin. Chepurin was greeted and seen off with applause by the residents of Kosovska Mitrovica, who threw flowers as the Russian diplomat walked down the town's central streets. Ambassador Chepurin meets with officials in Kosovska Mitrovica (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

"EU cannot help you - join Russia's life force"

The gathering was organized in Kosovska Mitrovica on the occasion of 110 years since the assassination of Russian Consul Grigory Stepanovich Shcherbin in the town, during the Ottoman Turk occupation.

Chepurin further told the panel that it was important that the solution for the Kosovo problem provides a safe and secure life for the people in there.

"Understanding between the Serbs in Kosovo and in Belgrade is needed, and it is very important for the talks. A peaceful and political solution must be found so that the people can live safely, and if conditions were to be created for Serbs from central Serbia to find jobs in Kosovo , that would be real pleasure," said the Russian ambassador.

Chepurin stressed that his country, which does not recognize the ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, would continue to support Serbia on Kosovo.

Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Aleksandar Vulin also took part in the discussion, to say that, "as we want Serbia to be here, we want Russia to be close to us."

"Where there is no Russia and its impact, the Serbian voice is not heard - it's as if we're not loud enough, as if we're not seen," said Vulin.

"It is hard, we are few in number, those more powerful (than us) have gathered around us - but as long as the Russian Federation exists we are not alone, just as the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, in the north and in the south, will not be left behind as long their Belgrade is there. It is worth fighting for every Serb in Kosovo and Metohija, it is worth fighting for Kosovo and Metohija," this government official stated.

Chepurin was further quoted as saying that Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council was the only document that regulates the status of Kosovo.

Regardless of what anyone is saying about a change in the situation, there is that one document and no other, by which the international community determined its position on Kosovo and Metohija, Chepurin said.

"I think we should not forget this, though some would like us to forget, because it is a valid document," the Russian diplomat said of Resolution 1244.

He added that Russia's position with regard to Kosovo was clear from the beginning , saying that his country was trying to support Serbia in every way, to implement such a policy that would be acceptable to their friends and political partners in Serbia.

Chepurin believes that, "if tomorrow everyone recognized Kosovo, it would be difficult to count on Serbs remaining on their land the day after."

"Serbian negotiators must feel that it has a joint position here, and I think there is no other way than a peaceful political solution," he said, pointing out at the same time that it was necessary to think not only about a this, but also about how people live in Kosovo.

"We're not magicians, but we will do everything we can to help the Serbs in the consolidation of their interests," the ambassador told the crowd in the packed faculty hall in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The panel was attended by political representatives of Serbs in Kosovo, officials of the relocated Priština University, SPC Bishop of Raška and Prizren Teodosije, and others.

Chepurin further stated that he believed it was possible to reach an agreement and that it could guarantee safe and secure life for Serbs in Kosovo, adding that the only way to resolve the status of Kosovo-Metohija, without international recognition, was through talks.

He warned that non-recognition of Kosovo means opposition to the great powers that want this issue to be resolved, and that pressure, he said, can be withstood only by a few countries, including Russia and its "closer allies", and "several countries who are friends of Serbia, and China."

Aleksandar Vulin said before his meeting with the Russian ambassador that the position of the Serbian leadership was that "nothing can be done in Kosovo and Metohija at the expense of the people who live in the province":

"We will look for a common solution, which will always take care of the people who live in Kosovo and Metohija. On behalf of the Serbian government I would like to say that the stance of the leadership is that there will be nothing done to the detriment of the people who live down here. These negotiations are conducted not because somebody finds it pleasant but because the people from Kosovo have the right to make decisions about their lives, and that right was so far not offered by anyone."

In Kosovska Mitrovica, Ambassador Chepurin met with Vulin, his deputy Krstimir Pantić and municipal authorities. He then joined Vulin and placed flowers at the monument dedicated to Shcherbin.

Chepurin was greeted and seen off with applause by the residents of Kosovska Mitrovica, who threw flowers as the Russian diplomat walked down the town's central streets.